Laboratory Genetic Counselor (Genetic Counselor)

Job Summary

This role integrates a certified genetic counselor into the Indiana University Genetic Testing Laboratories within the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics. The genetic counselor will serve as a key member of the laboratory team, acting as a primary liaison between the laboratory and referring physicians, ordering providers, and other healthcare professionals. The clinical laboratory genetic counselor will also have opportunities to participate in teaching and mentoring but will not be involved in direct patient care.

Department-Specific Responsibilities

• Provides guidance and education on appropriate genetic testing.
• Supports clinical laboratory directors in the context of genomic testing.
• Contributes to pre-analytic sample and data review, phenotype curation, genomic analysis and interpretation, result communication, and provider engagement.
• Supervises learners as well as delivers didactic instruction to graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, residents, and clinical fellows.
• Works with clients to effectively coordinate the submission of test orders, consents, previous records, and all appropriate samples to complete complex genetic testing orders.
• Assists with the process of pre-analytic data curation by gathering necessary information from submitting physicians and health care providers to provide optimal specimen handling and processing.
• Provides customer service and serve as the point of contact for ordering physicians and other healthcare providers.
• Prepares cases for evaluation, which may include medical record review, research of conditions, psychosocial assessment, evaluation of appropriate testing options, and variant analysis.
• Summarizes results of analyses and effectively communicate results in both written and verbal formats.
• Provides follow-up where appropriate and communication to physicians regarding the significance of test results.
• Teaches all levels of departmental and IU School of Medicine trainees about the role of the laboratory genetic counselor including professionalism, informed consent, regulations, and quality assurance.
• Participates in the departmental educational conferences pertinent to clinical genetic and laboratory training.
• Maintains appropriate notes in patient records and participate in development/revision/data mining of all laboratory requisitions and databases.
• Assists in developing relevant clinical and lab policies regarding new tests.
• Participates in drafting/submitting articles/abstracts for publications, posters and/or presentations and participates in conferences to share the experiences of IU Genetic Testing Labs.

General Responsibilities

• Identifies appropriate tests for particular condition(s), interprets test results, and advises on appropriate follow-ups following counseling.
• Prepares cases for evaluation, which may include medical record review, research of conditions, psychosocial assessments, and evaluations of appropriate testing options.
• Provides genetics education to groups and individuals upon request. Target audiences could include, but are not limited to, healthcare providers, schools, and community groups.
• Contributes to ongoing research efforts related to the evaluation and improvement of the genetic counseling field.
• Develops new study and information materials.
• Keeps up-to-date on genetics education via continuing education efforts.